ONLINE shopping will account for nearly £1 in every £8 spent by consumers in 2013 as the growth in internet retailing helps drive up sales.

Total retail spending in the UK is forecast to rise by 1.8 per cent to £300.7billion, the fastest pace since the downturn began, according to a report by leading industry analyst Verdict Research and analytical software provider SAS.

The study, called How the UK Will Shop in 2013, says most of the rise will be driven by inflation as higher prices mean shoppers will have to spend more to buy the same amount.

Verdict predicts DIY and gardening will be the sector’s strongest categories in 2013 with a rise of 3.3 per cent as gardeners make up for the terrible weather of 2012 and householders do small projects as they consider putting their home on the market.

Music and video shop sales are expected to shrink by 6.3 per cent as shopping in those categories shifts online.

Online purchases will account for almost 12 per cent of the total

Verdict estimates four fifths of all music and video sales will be on the internet, thanks to a mix of lower prices online and the popularity of streaming to watch films and TV shows.

Growing use of computer tablets such as the iPad and of smartphones will be behind a rapid growth in mobile shopping.

Online purchases will account for almost 12 per cent of the total, says the study, as online retailers such as Amazon gain at the expense of bricks and mortars rivals.

The other big shift predicted by Verdict is a move towards older shoppers as the 55-plus age bracket becomes the fastest growing section among online shoppers.

Maureen Hinton, Verdict director of research and analysis, commented: “UK retailing is set for another year of tough trading as the hoped for economic recovery is put back further and austerity continues to reign.” Slow growth at home would prompt retailers to look for opportunities to expand overseas in markets such as Europe, India and the US.